The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-08-18
A Reply TO JEFF DAVIS.


who, by the way is an East Tennes-
sean, has written to Jefferson Davis O
letter in which he expresses great re-
gret that just at this time his old
friend should have done such an in
jury to the cause of temperance as he
has by his letter. The following is an
extract from Senator Reagan's letter
"You object to this amendment be-
cause the world is governed too much.
Our laws prohibit the carrying OF
pistols, bowie-knives and brass
knuckles, and punish those carrying
them by fine and imprisonment.
Our laws prohibit and provide for the
punishment OF many other things
which are injurious to society and
which restrain the personal liberty of
the citizen. You admit that the in
temperate use of liquor is the root Of
many social disorders. No one can
truthfully deny the baneful effects of
the liquor traffic. But you think,
with many others, that to prohibit it,
will be an abridgement of personal
liberty. This is admitted. Personal
liberty was abridged when God for
bade our progenitors to eat of the
fruit Of the tree of life. The deca-
logue in the Holy Scriptures abridges
personal liberty in nearly every COM
mandment. The laws of the Uni ted
States and of our several states, are
in large measure made of provisions
for the abridgement of personal liber-
ty. They do this in order to give pro-
lection to the persons, the regulations,
the lives, the property Of the people
to give peace and prosperity to So
ciety. They do it because govern
ment and civil society cannot exist
without the abridgement of personal
liberty. They do it for the good of
society and the protection of its mem
bers.
Is the liquor traffic an evil? Few
have the hardihood to deny that it is,
Most OF the anti-prohibition orators OF
this state admit that it is. Then why
not prohibit it, except for the useful
purposes mentioned in the amend
ment, as one prohibits gambling and
carrying weapons? You justly refer
to drunkards as degraded criminals
Why not do all we lawfully may to
prevent drunkenness and the crimes
it gives rise to?
The great charter Of English lib er.
ty, the portions of the constitution OF
the United States which operate as q
bill OF rights, the bill OF rights of the
several states Of the union-may be
analyzed in their aspects and it will
not, cannot be found that they, any.
where, under any circumstances, pro
tect personal liberty where its exer
else is a crime or offends iniuriously
the interest of society. They only pro
tect those great and sacred rights
without which men cannot be free, can
not enjoy either personal liberty OF
popular rights. If the liquor traffic il
right if it promotes peace if it pro
notes prosperity if it increases the
happiness of the person; if it pro
notes the general welfare if it is nee
essary as q means of maintaining
our private or public rights and liber
ties-tnen | agree that it is protected
by the bill OF rights and ought not t,
be interfered with. But if it is evil
if it produces drunkenness idlenes
and crime if it leads to the waste 0
fortune if it causes the impoverish
ment, disgrace and ruin of men; if
derives women and children of tn
comforts of life and home if it cause
men to men to insult, abuse maltrea
and murder one another; if it cause
them to neglect, to abuse, to degrad
and beat their wives and children
{ then l submit it does not come With
the protection OF our bills OF right
and that these things are not the pc,
sonal liberties which should be hel
inviolate.